| Walter McBride | |
| Country: | England |
| Fullname: | Walter Nelson McBride |
| Birth Date: | 27 November 1904 |
| Birth Place: | Croydon, Surrey, England |
| Death Place: | Ealing, Middlesex, England |
| Batting: | Left-handed |
| Bowling: | Right-arm medium |
| Club1: | Oxford University |
| Year1: | 1925–1928 |
| Club2: | Hampshire |
| Year2: | 1925–1929 |
| Club3: | Dorset |
| Year3: | 1938 |
| Columns: | 1 |
| Column1: | First-class |
| Matches1: | 47 |
| Runs1: | 656 |
| Bat Avg1: | 12.86 |
| 100S/50S1: | –/1 |
| Top Score1: | 51 |
| Deliveries1: | 3,506 |
| Wickets1: | 56 |
| Bowl Avg1: | 31.98 |
| Fivefor1: | 2 |
| Tenfor1: | – |
| Best Bowling1: | 5/57 |
| Catches/Stumpings1: | 31/– |
| Date: | 20 February |
| Year: | 2010 |
| Source: | http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/16957.html Cricinfo |
Walter Nelson McBride (27 November 1904 — 30 January 1974) was an English first-class cricketer.
The son of Walter Sydney McBride, he was born at Croydon in November 1904. McBride was educated at Westminster School,[1] where he captained the school cricket team in 1924 and was singled out for praise by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack as "the best player in the eleven", and a bowler whose "pace is quite fast".[2] From Westminster, he matriculated to Christ Church, Oxford.[1] There, he made his debut in first-class cricket for Oxford University Cricket Club against Middlesex at Oxford in 1925. He would play for Oxford until 1928, making sixteen first-class appearances;[3] he would have likely made more appearances for Oxford, however his final year in 1928 was limited to two appearances by illness.[4] For his appearance in The University Match against Cambridge University in 1926, he gained a blue.[5] Playing in the Oxford side primarily as a right-arm medium pace bowler, he took 32 wickets at an average of 27.81;[6] he took two five wicket hauls, with best figures of 5 for 57 against the Free Foresters in 1926.[7] It was against the Free Foresters the following year that he made his only first-class half century, with a score of 51.[8] For Oxford, he scored 251 runs at a batting average of 11.40.[9] In addition to playing cricket for Oxford, McBride also played football for Oxford University A.F.C. as a goalkeeper. He played in Oxford's 6–2 victory against Cambridge University A.F.C. in 1927, gaining a football blue.[5]
While studying at Oxford, McBride represented Hampshire during the summer holidays, making his debut for Hampshire against Somerset at Taunton in the 1925 County Championship. He was a regular member of the Hampshire side when he was available to play, making 29 appearances for Hampshire while he was still studying at Oxford; following his graduation, he made just two further appearances in the 1929 County Championship.[3] In his 29 matches, he took 24 wickets at an average of 37.54 and took best figures of 3 for 36.[6] With the bat, he scored 405 runs at a batting average of 13.96 and a highest score of 35.[9] McBride later played minor counties cricket for Dorset, making two appearances in the 1938 Minor Counties Championship against Devon and Cornwall.[10] McBride died at Ealing in January 1974.[5] He was survived by his wife, Molly (1927–2006).[11]